| Armed Services Blood Program Newsletter |
April 1, 2010 |
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From the Desk of:
COL Francisco Rentas, Director, ASBPO
In this issue, we focus on some of the great community service military recruits and students are doing as a part of their military education and training.
First we highlight a record-setting blood drive hosted by the Cadets, students and faculty at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA. We also highlight a blood drive sponsored by the Airman Leadership School for the Armed Services Blood Bank Center-Europe on Kapaun Air Station. Last, but certainly not least, we highlight the Recruit Training Command (RTC) at Great Lakes, IL who make blood donation a priority in the training schedule of Navy recruits.
These fine students and units are a wonderful example of the dedication and work that goes into making the Armed Services Blood Program a success. Without the support and work of individuals such as these, ASBP would not be able to supply the blood products that are so greatly needed for our dedicated servicemen and women. I thank them for their support and all of our donors that help to make the ASBP the life-saving program that it is.
Warm regards,
COL Francisco Rentas |
Georgia Military College Hosts Record Blood Drive
Cadets, students, and faculty at Georgia Military College (GMC) in Milledgeville, GA have always been determined blood donors. Since 2005, they have shown their Bulldog spirit by supporting our troops through the Armed Services Blood Program with regular blood drives. At their March 9, 2010 drive, students steadily poured in to donate, giving 117 units of blood to break their previous record of 108!
As Community Service Coordinator in the Student Activities Department and organizer of these blood drives, Brenda Brown was thrilled with the record turnout. In the drive advertising, Mrs. Brown includes pictures of former and present GMC cadets to remind the student body of their classmates and friends, who have served overseas. Many Georgia Military College students are already in the military or are planning to join, and several of their cadets have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in the last few years.
"It's good for them to see their friends and peers giving blood," observed Brenda, adding, "It's also important to keep in mind their classmates, friends and relatives who are serving our country."
To find out more about the Armed Services Blood Program or to make an appointment please visit us online: www.militaryblood.dod.mil.
Photo: Cadet Calmour Henry donating at the recent March 9th ASBP blood drive at Georgia Military College. |
Airman Leadership School Leads the Way 
The Airman Leadership School 's Class of 2010-03 hosted a community blood drive recently for the Armed Services Blood Bank Center - Europe (part of the Armed Services Blood Program) on Kapaun Air Station. A community service project is one of the many requirements to successfully complete this leadership training, and with many options-the post office, reading to children at local child care centers, volunteering at the commissary-the members of Freedom Flight, Warrior Flight, and Guardian Flight settled on a blood drive!
Going in, the flight groups understood that the community project could not interfere with other curriculum or the training schedule of the rest of the course, so they chose a Saturday to conduct the drive. And, after coordinating with the military donor center, they also understood that most of the class would be needed for more than the required two hours.
Photo: SGT Sylvia Sacco (left) collects blood from SrA Jimmy Camacho (right) of ALS Class 2010-03 |
Great Lakes Navy Recruits - It All Starts Here 
The making of a new Sailor at Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, IL takes eight weeks of training informally known as "Navy Boot Camp." From arrival at the main gate until the Sailor leaves on the bus with a packed sea bag, every event or mandatory training is tightly scheduled. The scheduling department at Recruit Training Command is responsible for this precision and works tirelessly to provide thousands of recruits each year with the order of training events and timeframes needed to complete training efficiently and effectively. In addition to the many other activities scheduled, blood drives have, over the past several years, also become an integral part of the training schedule at Great Lakes. And this is not an easy addition since blood drives must be strategically placed between mandatory training and immunization timeframes.
To read the entire article about the Great Lakes Navy recruits' training, go to the ASBP official website at www.militaryblood.dod.mil
Photo: The crew at the RTC Scheduling Office includes AM1 (AW/SW) Mark Stewart (left), Ms. Machelle Ferry (middle) and AMC (AW) Ruben Barrera (right). |
The Blood Bank Fellowship Program 
The United States military offers a Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) Fellowship program as a unique opportunity for those interested in a career in blood services. The SBB Fellowship trains medical technologists from all three branches of the Armed Services - Army, Navy, and Air Force to become specialists in blood banking.
This challenging program prepares officers to effectively apply universal blood banking skills in a variety of settings, enabling graduates to perform all blood bank operations-from routine testing to the most advanced procedures.
The Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) Program was founded in 1958 and mandated in 1972 by the Department of Defense (DoD) in order to maintain an adequate military blood program. Sponsored by the U.S. Army, this Fellowship is an eighteen month program that consists of an academic and research phase. It is offered to medical technologists selected from all three branches of the Armed Services.
This challenging program is specifically designed for three major purposes:
1. Prepare medical technologists for their roles as military blood program officers.
2. Train officers in all aspects of blood banking in preparation for the Specialist in Blood Banking National Registry Examination, which is run by the American Society for Clinical Pathology
3. Award a Master of Science in Health Sciences degree in the field of Immunohematology at George Washington University.
The SBB Fellowship program is approved by the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Application requirements vary by military branch, however, every American applicant must be active duty in the U.S. military.
Many Armed Services Blood Program officers have graduated from the fellowship program, including COL Francisco Rentas, who is the director of the Armed Services Blood Program. When asked about his fellowship experience, COL Rentas responded "Attending the SBB Fellowship at Walter Reed has been the highlight of my career. It served as the basis for just about everything I have done since 1992. I am proud to be called an SBB graduate!"
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Help Us Do More!
The ASBP thanks you for your support and generous contributions to military service members and their families. Because of you, thousands of lives have been saved.
To help us continue to meet our mission we would like to know what motivates you to donate blood.
Your thoughts are invaluable to us, so rise up, be heard.
Take our short survey by clicking here.
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